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Life's Illusions The Next Generation - Chapter 8
Abby was seated comfortably in American Airlines First Class Lounge, at Washington's Ronald Regan Airport, dwelling on how to achieve her objective.
She'd booked the flight under her current name, Andrea Sinclair, no sense in showing your hand until you had to, it would turn out to be a big mistake, she was traveling in the US using a fake name.
In Torremolinas at Guardian's HQ, in the control room, a single red marker on a screen map started to flash, which set in motion a set procedure.
Within minutes three cell phones received a text alert.
'Black Widow on the move, destination Chicago, on AA, ETA, 14.22, Trump International Hotel.
Josef, Juan and Pierre all breathed a sigh of relief, they'd only been twenty four hours ahead of her.
In Chicago, before checking in to her hotel, she decided to pay a visit, they hadn't seen her in over three years, she'd need to build a bridge, she gave the limousine driver her parents address.
Stood on the porch, looking at the unfamiliar young face staring at her from the doorway, she was struggling to process the words it's mouth was saying.
"They moved away, a little over two years ago, don't know where, Florida way I think, somewhere warm, the son didn't go with them, he's still around Chicago, he collected their mail for several months, must be doing okay, lives somewhere out in Barrington Hills.
Several minutes after conversation stopped, she was still looking at the closed door.
They'd gone, suddenly she felt out on a limb, her parents had disappeared, this was her home, they'd left, abandoned her.
She'd almost stumbled down the porch steps, back to her limousine.
At the hotel she'd checked in, then sat in her room brooding, he'd said David was living in Barrington Hills, that was Jace's parents house, she couldn't understand why he would be living with them, or could she?.
As she brooded her plan formed, she'd known it, he might act like the All American Jock, but he wasn't, it was a facade, Jo Thorn was another of those perverts, and now he'd turned her little brother into a pervert, he'd have to pay for that, Jo Thorn's days were numbered, along with Jace, and the brat.
Unbeknown to Abby, she was being watched, Guardian's agents had seen her board the flight in Washington.
Agents had seen her deplane in Chicago, shadowed her to her parents old house, then onwards to the Trump International Hotel.
Her every move was documented.
Josef was in communication with the Agents in Chicago, Juan was listening in.
"She'll go to the house in Barrington Hills tomorrow, trust me, she's going to head straight for where she thinks Jace is, I want her reaction recorded when she finds there's no one there, it's important we have her reaction on record, it will tell us how committed she is to finding him, I want at least four camera angles on her at the gate house, and it's important she is informed her entry permissions have been rescinded".
Abby did exactly as Josef had predicted, hiring a car she headed for the house in Barrington Hills, a house she expected to gain entry to easily.
The cameras recorded her surprise, shock even, when the gatehouse guards wouldn't open the gates.
Her face was contorted in anger as she backed her car out of the driveway entrance and roared away.
Far from being pleased with the footage, Juan was seriously concerned, as he told Josef.
"This is not going to go away, I think it's time to bring in the FBI, she's admitted on camera her name is Abby Thorn, she's flown across the US under a false identity, that should give them enough cause to apprehend her, it proves she's committed bigamy by marrying several times whilst still married to Jace".
Josef disagreed.
"I don't think it's enough, her connections are too powerful, she'd be out in no time, and twice as dangerous, I say we leave her out there, but why not give her a little extra stress to deal with, let's have Jace call her, tell her the guards called him, but he doesn't want to see her, he just wants a divorce, he's met someone who he wants to marry".
Juan agreed that would probably send her anger levels off the scale, but what then?, how could they trap her?.
Josef then changed his original suggestion, what if they leaked the location, let her see that Jace was at Gregous, somewhere they could be sure of Jace's safety, where they would be in control as they forced her to show her hand.
Juan was a little uneasy, but agreed it was a plan worth going for.
Using their contracts, they arranged for 'The Chicago Tribune' to carry a quarter page article the following day about Jace Thorn proposing to an unnamed Society A Lister, and quoting Jace as saying, 'I'm married to a wife who walked out on me and our beautiful son over three years ago, I want her wiped out of our memories, I've found someone who wants, and deserves to be in our lives, she doesn't, we'll be staying with family at Gregous, outside of Rome for a while', they figured that statement alone would cause her to go ballistic, hopefully it would make her careless.
But the boys were still surprised to learn, when she next moved, she had a private escort of security personnel.
The security personnel were supplied by a competitor to Guardian, a company who it was rumoured, was on the brink of collapse.
Josef and Juan debated the merits of discussing with their competitors the folly of having her as a client, but decided against it, she had probably called in a favour, someone either rich or famous had been the one to instigate this cover for her, their competitors would have to protect her in order to retain their real principal, at least this way they knew what they were up against.
The boys were briefed constantly, she'd flown into Rome, again using the name Andrea Sinclair, and ensconced herself in a suite at one of the most expensive hotels.
Two days elapsed after she arrived, she didn't leave the hotel.
It came on the third day.
A simple white envelope, addressed to Jace Thorn.
As he opened it and read the words Jace was actually trembling.
'So you want rid of me do you?, well I can't say I blame you, I want the same, but not without fair compensation, I deserve something, after all, I gave you the Brat, believe me you're both very lucky, meet me Jace, make me a realistic settlement offer and we can be out of each other's lives forever, I'm staying at Aldrovandi Villa Borghese, tomorrow evening, dinner at 7pm, I'll expect you, don't disappoint me, don't bring the Brat, bring my little brother, I know he's here with you.
Abby'.
When he finished reading he handed the letter to Juan, who, after reading the content said only three words.
"Not a chance".
But everyone was surprised by Jace's reply.
"I'm going, if it means I get to draw a line under this relationship, to be rid of her, I'll give her whatever she wants".
Josef spoke.
"It's not ideal, but I think it's safe enough if we have security in place, I don't think she'll do anything unless Ary's with you, if her intention is to wipe you out she'll do it when you're together, we have to avoid that at all cost".
A little before 7pm the following evening Jace and David were shown to a table in the restaurant of Aldrovandi Villa Borghese.
There were two of Guardian's security personnel already seated, watching them from nearby tables.
Abby had not been there to meet them, the waiter had informed them she would be with them shortly.
They'd waited, nervously, until around 7.15pm when she'd appeared.
As she walked gracefully across the crowded room toward them Jace felt himself smiling.
He had to admit, she was more beautiful than ever.
He watched her as she approached them, noticing the return of a slight smile, her eyes never leaving him.
Both Jace and David stood as she arrived at the table, Jace opened his arms to welcome her into an embrace, which she accepted warmly.
To anyone watching it would appear as if a normal married couple were embracing after being separated for no more than a few hours.
As she pulled away from Jace, she held him at arms length studying his face, before reaching up to brush away a lipstick smudge from his cheek.
No words had been spoken.
She'd turned, her gaze falling on David, her little brother, then, as Jace had done, she opened her arms and welcomed him into a warm embrace.
It was David who broke the silence.
"It's so good to see you Sis, I've missed you Abs".
As she pulled away she could see his eyes glistening, she knew he was being genuine, but he was still weak, the same clingy child she'd had to protect growing up, protect or take the chance of being thrown out by their parents, she realised now, she still hated him.
Turning back to Jace her expression changed in a flash to severe as she said.
"You didn't miss me did you?, too busy replacing me, if the account in The Tribune is correct, perhaps I should have just invited my brother, let our lawyers arrange a settlement, left you at home playing with the Brat and your mystery woman".
Jace didn't react, other than to say.
"It's Aarron, or Ary".
She'd been looking at David when Jace spoke, her head snapped back toward him, obviously not understanding what he'd said.
"What?".
Completely unfazed by her mood Jace replied.
"Our son, his name is Aarron Pierre Thorn, we call him Ary, he's just over 3 years old now".
Her face had changed to a picture of almost blatant fury as she barked a response.
"I know how old the Brat is, I gave birth to him, or had you forgotten".
The conversation was becoming vicious, a waiter was hovering nervously, close to the table, at which they were all still standing.
All conversation in the room had now stopped, every head was turned toward them.
Jace had listened to Juan's instructions before he'd left Gregous, almost dismissing them, Juan had urged him to antagonise her, get her riled up, until now he'd honestly believed he wouldn't do it, but her constant reference to Ary as the Brat had his blood boiling, and he was now fired up enough to lash out easily.
"It would appear I'm not the one who forgot he was born, as I've raised him alone, been the one, the only parent, giving him love, whilst you I hear were busy bed hopping from husband to husband, bigamously I might add".
Jace watched as her expression got even angrier, if that were at all possible.
Abby was indeed angry, no one spoke to her like Jace had, no one in her current circle would dare.
"I see the Spanish weasels have been busy, the little dirt diggers, I was prepared to let bygones be bygones, discuss with civility, a plan to end our union, it seems you're determined that won't happen, is there any point in our sitting down?".
Jace surprised himself, when he'd decided he wanted to find her, it was with the genuine hope he might possibly convince her to come home, but now he knew, he didn't want her back, he didn't want her anywhere near him or Ary, his reply said it all.
"Your memory seems to be failing you Abby, you invited us, sorry, that is the name you're using at the moment isn't it?, it must get confusing, trying to remember who you are today, with all those names, or perhaps it's due to some infection you picked up during your working life, I hear it's an occupational hazard for a whore".
Abby was stunned, so much so that all she could do was stutter.
"What, how dare you".
Jace wasn't finished, his voice booming out, clearly heard by every diner in the busy restaurant.
"I dare because of what you are, everything I've said is factual, you're a prostitute, a high class whore, and a bigamist, but worst of all, you're a low life scumbag who abandoned her child, our child, at only 2 days old to go bed hopping, to be honest, no, I don't want to sit down with you, I really don't want to be anywhere near you, I'd rather have dinner with a rabid dog, there'd be less chance of catching an infection".
At that point Jace walked past her toward the exit, David looked at his sister, his face showing the disgust he felt for her, before he turned to follow Jace.
Shocking the other dinners Abby screamed out.
"Don't you dare walk away from me, come back here".
Stunned for a few moments, Abby had just stared as they left the restaurant, then, as her anger kicked back in, she stormed after them.
Leaving the hotel, heading to their limousine, they could hear her heels clicking on the marble floor of the foyer behind them.
Their limousine pulled away heading out of Rome toward Gregous
just as Abby emerged from the hotel
In the car Jace broke the silence.
"I'm sorry David, I spoiled your reunion, I didn't mean to get so riled up, I don't really know why I did, it's not something I'm proud of".
David surprised him.
"Don't apologise Jace, I know exactly why you lost it, I'm Ary's uncle, I love him dearly, it made my blood boil to hear her refer to him as the Brat, that's when I knew what Mom and Dad told me was true, you didn't do or say anything wrong".
Jace was puzzled.
"What did your parents tell you David?".
David looked deep in thought, concerned, before he replied.
"Don't be angry with me Jace, I should have told you this before, but I promised Mom and Dad I wouldn't, they only wanted to protect you and Ary".
David paused and Jace nodded giving him the reassurance he needed to go on.
"Before they left for Florida, we were talking about Abby, I only had memories of her as a good person, someone I'd always loved, someone who'd always protected me, they told me I had a somewhat one sided view, told me about the threats they'd issued in the years before I remembered, their horror at realising what Abby was capable of when she'd tried several times to kill me".
Jace was stunned.
"You're sure about that, she actually tried to hurt you?".
David's face told Jace how serious he was.
"I know, I didn't believe it either, but they told me about several instances where they'd saved me by nothing more than sheer luck, until finally they'd laid down a serious threat, if I was harmed in any way, be it by her hand or another, they would disown her, put her into care, they were convinced it was the only reason she'd protected me as we grew up".
David fell quiet for a few moments before he spoke again.
"They said she was a wonderful, loving little girl until I was born, then she changed, she resented sharing their attention, developed a total hatred of me, I so wanted them to be wrong, but tonight I saw it for myself, she is pure evil, they were right about her, I understand now why they didn't want her to know where they are, they're frightened of her, and I think you should be frightened for Ary, if I'm right she actually had an affection for you but she won't share, that puts Ary in real danger".
They were each deeply engrossed in their thoughts when their driver surprised them.
"We're being pursued, an open top sports car just tried to force our tail off the road, it's behind us now and gaining on us, make sure you're both buckled up".
He was talking to both Guardian Control and Gregous when he said.
"Our tail had been eliminated, forced off the road, we're unprotected, I'm taking evasive action".
Almost the instant he finished speaking they felt a thud as their limousine was rammed from behind.
Turning to look out of the back window they could clearly see Abby driving the sports car, more worrying, they could also see a gun in her hand.
There was a man in the passenger seat, probably her security detail, who was clearly arguing with her, until, as they watched, she swung the gun hard against his head and he slumped forward.
Their driver was now talking to the guards at Gregous.
"Code red, we are approaching Gregous, being pursued by an open top sports car, principals are unharmed, our tail has been removed, we have been rammed once, the pursuer is brandishing a firearm, instigate a block on the entrance once we are inside, if our tail catches up, inform them to veer off".
David physically pushed Jace down in the seat as he continued to watch Abby approaching.
It was at just that point a bullet smashed through the rear window of the limousine showering them both with glass splinters and David slumped forward, blood pouring from his head.
Jace was terrified, shouting out.
"David's been shot, he's unconscious, bleeding badly from his head".
Their driver alerted Gregous.
"We're under fire, one of the principals is hit, unconscious, bleeding from a head wound, we're coming in fast, open the gates".
In the first drawing room of Gregous the family were listening to the exchanges, Jolly had announced she was going to the gates, she wanted to be certain her son was inside and safe, it had started an argument when Billy and Jay told her no, to let the security personnel deal with it, leading to Jolly exploding into rage before storming out of the lounge, warning them not to try stopping her.
Jace could see the entrance to Gregous ahead, Abby was still firing, he could hear the shots above the howling wind surging through the shattered window, but their driver had now adopted an evasive driving technique, swerving back and forth on the narrow road, making it difficult for her to land another shot, and impossible for her to get alongside them.
As they approached the entrance to Gregous, their car swerved out before turning sharp left through the open gates.
Jace could see she was following, but he was completely stunned when her car seemed to stop dead, crumpling before his eyes.
The transponder in their car had allowed them safe passage into Gregous before the steel barricades had deployed, each four feet high and twelve inches in diameter, three steel poles had shot up out of the ground, forming an impenetrable barrier which took the full force of Abby's car.
Jace's driver brought their car to a stop no more than fifty yards inside the entrance to Gregous, dragging David out onto the driveway, he began the task of stabilising him.
That should have been the end of it, but circumstances weren't favourable.
Juan had taken up a position to the right of the entrance, Abby's car hit the barriers with such force it's rear end slewed sideways, catching Juan a glancing blow, nocking him off his feet, disorienting him.
The force of the collision should have disabled Abby, but it didn't, moments after the collision, she stumbled from her wrecked car, blood streaking her face, gun in hand.
The first person she spotted was a disoriented Juan on the ground, and she headed straight for him, grabbing him from behind as he tried to stand, jabbing the gun against his temple she shouted.
"Bring my husband and the Brat here now or the Spanish weasel dies.
Jace, hearing her and seeing Juan in her clutches, climbed out of the limousine, starting to walk towards her.
"Let him go Abby, your argument is with me not him, you're already in deep enough trouble, don't make it worse, I'll swap places, take me but let Juan go".
In the control room at Gregous the guards sent a warning into Juan's earpiece.
"Hear this, someone has left the house, heading towards the gates, skirting the lake, we think it's Jace's mother, and we believe she's carrying a firearm, armed police are en route, ETA ten minutes, try to delay".
Juan regained his senses as Jace was advancing on where Abby had him held with the gun at his temple, he shouted to Jace.
"Don't come any closer Jace, go back.........".
It was as far as he got before Abby brought the gun down hard on his head, rendering him unconscious.
She now shouted at Jace.
"Take his place or I kill him now, and tell them to bring the Brat here as well".
As Jace neared her Abby shouted out another instruction.
"That's near enough, kneel down facing me, where's the Brat?, you have five minutes to get him here, if you fail I'll kill the Spanish weasel first, you'll watch him die before you join him".
Jace looked directly at her from his kneeling position.
"Not happening Abby, you're not getting anywhere near to Ary, give up, you can't get out of this".
Abby was clearly deranged, screaming at him.
"I might not get away with it but at least you'll be dead, pity I couldn't kill that pervert brother of yours as well, he turned my little brother into a queer".
She saw the look of confusion on Jace's face and started laughing loudly as she aimed the gun at him
"You didn't know, how stupid you are, they're fucking under your nose and you don't see it, perhaps you deserve to die first..........................".
She didn't get any further as several shots rang out, Abby hurtled backwards, landing crumpled, she didn't move.
Jace was shocked, even more so when his Mother emerged from the darkness holding a gun.
Abby was dead before she hit the ground, all hell then broke loose, guards emerged from the gatehouse to help Juan and David, Jace walked toward his mother, taking the gun from her hand he pulled her into a hug.
"You saved me Momma, I'm pretty sure she would have killed me, but who the hell let you come out here on your own?".
Even in the throws of shock, knowing what she had just done, she could answer him honestly.
"No one was ever going to stop me, and there was never any doubt in my mind, I've known all along, ever since we left Chicago, I would kill her given the chance, legally or not, I'm your mother, the moment you started growing inside me, I vowed to protect you, she was a bloody fool to threaten any of my brood".
The agent who had been traveling with Abby was airlifted along with David to hospital, both had suffered head wounds and were in a serious condition.
Juan recovered, and faced a serious bollocking from Pierre.
"Call yourself a bloody field manager, what the fuck possessed you to put yourself right by the side of the barriers, any brainless idiot can see a vehicle going forty or fifty kilometres an hour then stopped dead in its tracks is likely to snake around, but no, not you, you ignore that possibility, I could have lost you, you could have been killed, how would I cope, how would the kids cope".
Pierre didn't get any further, he broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, only to be scooped up into Juan's arms.
"Okay my love, I get it, I think it's time you and I took stock, we need to stop putting ourselves in this position, we'll talk about this, but for now, we're safe, we need to Skype the kids, and I definitely need me some Pierre loving tonight".
One of the most surprising reactions to shock the family came from Jo, when he learned of David's injuries he went into meltdown, screaming, shouting, demanding to be with him, inadvertently announcing his love, his devotion, but despite his later regret, it didn't matter, his brothers, his parents, closed ranks around him, but it was Will who summed it up as he held a sobbing Jo in his arms at the hospital.
"He's going to be okay Bro, and you're a ruddy Plonker, why didn't you tell us, it's okay, you'll never need our approval, we're already on your side whatever, but this, if it's love, you don't need approval from anyone, we love you, we love David, let's get him better then maybe we can see where you guys want to go with this, the rents are absolutely bubbling, well, that's if you ignore the elephant in the room".
The elephant in the room with Billy, Jay and Jolly was growing into a herd not a single elephant, until Jolly finally decided it was time to end it.
After dinner on the fourth night, when they'd endured another day of Interpol Agents interviewing them, Jolly lost it.
Since that fateful night they'd been separated, Jolly had chosen to sleep alone.
"I'm going back to Chicago tomorrow".
Billy and Jay had immediately perked up, expecting this to be a good move forward, but her next words immediately dashed their expectations.
"I'll be traveling alone, I've already arranged with Jacqueline to send a plane for me".
After putting Ary to bed and reading him the story he requested, Jace went into his own bedroom to make an important telephone call in private.
Twenty minutes later Jace found his mother sitting alone in the small lounge.
"Momma, I just took a message from Aunt Jacqueline, she sends her apologies, there's been a slight delay, the plane won't get here until late afternoon tomorrow and the pilots will need rest, she asks if you could possibly delay by one day, if it's a problem she says she can send a double crew but would prefer not to".
Jolly sighed.
"No, I'll call her and agree the extra day, thank you Jace".
He had to think quick.
"That's okay Momma, I'll let her know, I need to speak to Uncle Pete about a couple of my investments, he can pass the message on".
Without giving Jolly time to answer Jace left the room in search of his brothers, when he found them he surprised them both with his instructions.
"Tomorrow afternoon we are all three visiting David, and I'm taking Ary as well, when we leave the hospital we'll be having dinner in the city, we will not be returning until early evening, Uncles Reece and Van will also be out to dinner accompanied by Myron, Gregor and Brenda, Drew will be babysitting young Andrew".
His brothers looked quizzical, he smiled before going on.
"The only people at dinner will be our Momma, our Poppas, and my secret weapon".
His brothers tried hard to get him to elaborate but too no avail, Jace was determined, he was going to restore the balance among his parents, he just hoped it would work, it all rested on how successful his secret weapon was.
TBC ARB
Allan
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